title: Influence of 17β-estradiol binding by dissolved organic matter isolated from wastewater effluent on estrogenic activity.
abstract: The aims of this study were to determine the sorption coefficient (LogK(DOC)) of 17β-estradiol (E2), according to the size and composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) isolated from wastewater effluent using a fluorescence quenching (FQ) method, and to measure the estrogenic changes due to the extent of E2 sorption onto effluent DOM (EfOM) by using an E-screen bioassay. The highest logK(DOC) of E2 for a DOM size fraction less than 0.2 μm was observed by 4.87 ± 1.87 Lkg(-1)(DOC), and its estrogenicity was the lowest among all the size fractions at 1.2 ng-EEQL⁻¹. However, E2 estrogenicity for a DOM size fraction less than 5 kDa was as high as that for the positive control due to the absence of fulvic acid- and protein-like DOM to bind with E2. The estrogenic activity for the hydrophobic fraction bound with E2 was significantly reduced to 1.6 ng-EEQL⁻¹, while that for the hydrophilic fraction having no binding with E2 was 2.6 ng-EEQL⁻¹, which was similar to that of the positive control (i.e., 2.8 ng-EEQL⁻¹). The results support a conclusion that the change in estrogenicity was due to the strong sorption affinity of E2 onto DOM.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Safety Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Seodundong, Gwonseongu, Suwon 441-707, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jiho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jaeweon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sang H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000737:chemistry; D004958:Estradiol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D013634:Tannins / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D004967:Estrogens; D013634:Tannins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D004958:Estradiol; C005023:fulvic acid